Who do dentists target with their dental marketing? This survey found sleep apnea and TMJ/TMD patients were each targeted by half of responding dentists.

When it comes to the new cosmetic dentistry, we found that 5% of dentists offer cosmetic Botox, 11% offer therapeutic Botox treatment for TMJ treatment, and 14% offer Restylane or other dermal fillers.

“I do this very carefully because of the turf battles for Botox and Fillers. I market quietly and professionally in all areas by using education in the ads. Patients have a sense of entitlement, but in a heartbeat will pay cash for Botox… The Botox and fillers helps subsidize the practice to practice,” said one dentist. “I love providing this service too. No stress, reversible, pts love it and ask for it and pay in full the day of service.”

Here at The Wealthy Dentist, we were curious what services dentists are currently offering. The top services offered by dentists who responded to this survey are cosmetic, tooth whitening, dental implants, dentures, and children’s dentistry.

The Wealthy Dentist conducted a survey that asked dentists if they treat TMJ and TMD, or refer dental patients out to specialists. We wanted to know what percentage of dentists offered temporomandibular joint therapy.

In this survey 4 out of 5 dentists responded that they treat TMJ. They went on to further report that they charge anywhere from $500.00 to $40,000 for TMD treatment.

“Treating lifestyle and stress are huge factors in successfully treating these people!” declared a North Carolina TMJ dentist.

Click on play to watch the survey video –

TMJ dentists offer a variety of treatments — enough that patients can get confused. The TMJ dentist needs to clearly explain to the patient what their options are for managing a TMJ disorder.

University of Florida News has revealed the results of the Orofacial Pain Prospective Evaluation and Risk Assessment study, or OPPERA.

This large clinical study of TMD disorders has revealed a wide range of findings, including how women apparently grow more vulnerable to TMD as they age.

This was one of the largest clinical investigations into the causes of temporomandibular joint disorders, or TMD, and the researchers hope the discoveries may lead to new methods of diagnosing and treating facial pain conditions, and predicting who will be susceptible to them.

“A major benefit of the OPPERA study is the comprehensive evaluation of demographic, clinical, biological, sensory and psychosocial factors that may contribute to increased risk of TMD,” said Roger Fillingim to Florida News, who is a professor of community dentistry and behavioral science at the UF College of Dentistry and the principal investigator for the UF OPPERA site. “It is important to assess variables across these multiple biopsychosocial domains in order to fully reflect the complexity of chronic pain development and persistence.”

The researchers discovered –

Chronic TMD becomes more frequent with increasing age in women, but not in men.

A wide range of biological and psychological factors appear to contribute to the condition.

Dentists prescribe dental guards for a variety of reasons, but bruxism (teeth grinding) is the top cause. In this survey by dental management resource The Wealthy Dentist, 92% of dentist respondents reported offering guards for bruxism; many others use them to treat TMJ disorder.

TMD was cited by 76%, while 59% offer athletic mouthguards and 40% for sleep apnea. “I’ve had almost 2,000 hours of continuing dental education on TMJ, Bruxism and Sleep,” said an Illinois dentist. “Too many doctors try to treat these problems with inadequate knowledge.”

Dentists can prescribe a wide range of dental guards to treat various problems. Patients who grind their teeth (a condition known as bruxism) can protect their teeth at night with a nightguard. Dental splints are also a top treatment for TMJ pain. In addition, a dental guard can protect teeth in between restorative dentistry appointments.

Athletic mouthguards are important for kids and adults who play sports. Though sports supply stores sell inexpensive ones, dentists can provide mouthguards that are of higher quality, more comfortable, and more customized. In fact, evidence suggests that one brand – the Pure Power Mouthguard, or PPM – can actually improve athletic performance by making it easier for the athlete to breathe.

Not all athletes or parents are eager to spend the money to get a top-of-the-line sports mouthguard. “We make very few athletic mouthguards,” said a Maine dentist. “Parents in our area elect the over-the-counter ‘Boil & Bite’ guards over custom, laboratory-fabricated mouthguards.”

A dental splint can affect the shape of a patient’s airway. This can make it a useful treatment for sleep apnea and snoring, which are characterized by difficulty breathing while sleeping.

Sometimes even dentists get confused about the various forms of dental guards available. “Is there is a difference in terminology between mouth guard and occlusal guard?” asked a California dentist. “Occlusal guards or occlusal splints are specifically for protecting the teeth from bruxing and in TMJ cases. Mouthguards, on the other hand, could be used to protect the gums, lips and cheeks during sport activities.”

“There are more types of dental guards and splints available than I can count,” said dental website guru Jim Du Molin. “No single dentist can offer every single one, but the dental profession as a whole can treat a range of problems people don’t always associate with dentistry, from playing sports to treating jaw pain.

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